GUIDE TO THE BEST FESTIVALS IN GREECE
THE OLYMPICS (OLYMPIA)
Day One: The festival opens with the participants swearing under oath to play fairly. Watch as the athletes and judges proceed to the Atlis to make their offerings to one of the gods sponsoring this event such as Zeus, Apollo, Hermes, or Hercules. After the sacred opening ritual of the event, watch the boys of Greece compete in boxing, running, and wrestling.
After a morning full of events and rituals, take your free afternoon to visit the exciting sites of Olympia (for information on what to see in the polis, visit our Olympia page).
Day Two: On the second day, come and cheer on Athenian athletes competing in the chariot and horse race or the pentathlon. In the morning, watch the majestic procession of horses, riders and chariots into the hippodrome. Then comes the most thrilling and daring event of the games – the chariot races. Numerous races are lined up throughout the day from 2.5 miles to 8 miles. After watching the exhilarating race, stay for the shorter, but just as exciting horse races.
Walk from the hippodrome to the stadium after the horse races to watch the pentathlon. If you like running, wrestling, long jump, discus or javelin this event is a must-see.
At the end of the day, go and head over to the shrine of Pelops before nightfall to watch the Funeral ceremonies. Listen to beautifully written hymns sung for the victors around the Atlis. The day concludes with delicious feasts and rowdy celebrations.
Day Three: Halfway through the festival, do not miss the chance to witness the ultimate sacrifice to Zeus. To participate observe the ceremony paying homage to the leader of the gods walk over to the Atlis in the morning. There you will watch our ambassador carry the Athena symbol into the event to be shared with the other cities during the celebration.
In the afternoon, stick around for the dolichos and sprints. The sprints finish at the western end of the stadium, so if you want to witness the end of the race head over to the Atlis.
At night, join the athletes and their families at a grand banquet where you will feast on the delicious foods the representatives from the various Greek cities brought.
Day Four:
The fourth day is saved for the toughest of the competitors. This Olympics, watch out for the most heated battles of the games between Sparta and Athens in boxing and wrestling. After watching athletes fight to the death, come and see the final event of day four, the pagration. Cheer on Athenians as they box and wrestle with their opponents until they give up and concede defeat.
The day concludes with the hoplitodromos. Look on as the Olympic athletes run two lengths of the stadium carrying their shields and helmets.
Day 5: After five days cheering on your fellow Athenians in the games, come and celebrate all of the accomplishments of the champions. First, join the athletes and trainers in a procession to the Temple of Zeus behind the victors of the events. Once the wreaths are placed on top of the victors’ heads, the final celebration begins. Party into the night at private gatherings or public banquets.
Note: Unless your wife is a priestess of Demeter, leave her at home.
After a morning full of events and rituals, take your free afternoon to visit the exciting sites of Olympia (for information on what to see in the polis, visit our Olympia page).
Day Two: On the second day, come and cheer on Athenian athletes competing in the chariot and horse race or the pentathlon. In the morning, watch the majestic procession of horses, riders and chariots into the hippodrome. Then comes the most thrilling and daring event of the games – the chariot races. Numerous races are lined up throughout the day from 2.5 miles to 8 miles. After watching the exhilarating race, stay for the shorter, but just as exciting horse races.
Walk from the hippodrome to the stadium after the horse races to watch the pentathlon. If you like running, wrestling, long jump, discus or javelin this event is a must-see.
At the end of the day, go and head over to the shrine of Pelops before nightfall to watch the Funeral ceremonies. Listen to beautifully written hymns sung for the victors around the Atlis. The day concludes with delicious feasts and rowdy celebrations.
Day Three: Halfway through the festival, do not miss the chance to witness the ultimate sacrifice to Zeus. To participate observe the ceremony paying homage to the leader of the gods walk over to the Atlis in the morning. There you will watch our ambassador carry the Athena symbol into the event to be shared with the other cities during the celebration.
In the afternoon, stick around for the dolichos and sprints. The sprints finish at the western end of the stadium, so if you want to witness the end of the race head over to the Atlis.
At night, join the athletes and their families at a grand banquet where you will feast on the delicious foods the representatives from the various Greek cities brought.
Day Four:
The fourth day is saved for the toughest of the competitors. This Olympics, watch out for the most heated battles of the games between Sparta and Athens in boxing and wrestling. After watching athletes fight to the death, come and see the final event of day four, the pagration. Cheer on Athenians as they box and wrestle with their opponents until they give up and concede defeat.
The day concludes with the hoplitodromos. Look on as the Olympic athletes run two lengths of the stadium carrying their shields and helmets.
Day 5: After five days cheering on your fellow Athenians in the games, come and celebrate all of the accomplishments of the champions. First, join the athletes and trainers in a procession to the Temple of Zeus behind the victors of the events. Once the wreaths are placed on top of the victors’ heads, the final celebration begins. Party into the night at private gatherings or public banquets.
Note: Unless your wife is a priestess of Demeter, leave her at home.
Pythian Games (Delphi)
If you loved the Olympic games, and one athletic festival every four years is not enough for you, attend the next best thing - the Pythian Games in Delphi. Since 582, the five day festival has become the best tribute to the god of Apollo.
Day One: The festival opens with a sacrifice of a series of animals to Apollo. After the sacrifice, is a reenactment of the dispute between Python and Apollo.
Day Two: On the second day of the festival, make sure you come with an appetite. All the animals sacrificed to Apollo the previous day will be consumed as athletes and onlookers alike will feast and socialize.
Day Three: Looking for something more than athletic competitions to culturally stimulate you while your away from Athens? Then the music festival at Athens is just for you. Also, a new painting competition is being held this year.
Day Four: Athletic Contests
Day Five: Horse Races
Day One: The festival opens with a sacrifice of a series of animals to Apollo. After the sacrifice, is a reenactment of the dispute between Python and Apollo.
Day Two: On the second day of the festival, make sure you come with an appetite. All the animals sacrificed to Apollo the previous day will be consumed as athletes and onlookers alike will feast and socialize.
Day Three: Looking for something more than athletic competitions to culturally stimulate you while your away from Athens? Then the music festival at Athens is just for you. Also, a new painting competition is being held this year.
Day Four: Athletic Contests
Day Five: Horse Races
Nemean Games (Argos)
NOTICE!
As of 415, the activities in Nemea have been placed on indefinite hiatus because of the Spartan attack on the city-state leaving the site of the games in ruins. We thank Argos for their continued alliance and will anxiously anticipate the return of the games in the near future.